2010 Youth Entrepreneurs of the Year

On June 24, 2010, Wendy Cai and Kristy Choi, juniors at Richard Montgomery High School in Rockville, MD, were named Youth Entrepreneurs of the Year for the Greater Washington Region by Ernst & Young and Junior Achievement of the National Capital Area. Wendy and Kristy, who are 16 and 17, respectively, were honored for founding Codi's Hats, a non-profit organization that creates and provides hats to children staying at hospitals and treatment centers.

The two founded Codi's Hats in 2009 in loving memory of their friend Codi Alexander, who was just 16 when she was struck by a car while bicycling to work. During the five days she spent in the hospital before her death, Codi's friends came to understand the fear and sadness that come with having a youth hospitalized. Wendy and Kristy began Codi's Hats out of compassion for the suffering of others and the belief that the joy of charity could help them heal.

For more information about Codi's Hats and the Youth Entrepreneur of the Year Competition, please visit www.myJA.org/students/yeoty/.

Category:

Nonprofits & Activism

Tags:

• Junior Achievement
• Codi's Hats
• Youth Entrepreneur of the Year
• Ernst & Young